Oxidative stress facilitates a diverse adaptive response in bacteria

Abstract

The adaptive oxidative stress response allows bacteria to adapt to hostile environmental conditions. We explored how the evolution of cellular ROS in oxidative stress triggers physiological and genetic changes in multiple pathogenic species. Our study posits that growth-survival tradeoffs under oxidative stress enact a diverse array of genetic and physiological changes resulting in cross-resistance to acid, antimicrobial resistance, and metabolic reprogramming in bacteria.